B-to-B Insights: Return to Sender

So yes, I believe social media is one of the biggest time sucks on the planet. But that does not mean I think it is completely worthless.

Use It Well, or Not At All
Here are a few social media strategies that I have found productive either for marketing my freelance copywriting services, building my opt-in e-list, or selling my information products online:

Participate in conversations on LinkedIn groups in the niches you are involved in, such as B-to-B marketing.

Use LinkedIn to reconnect with former clients, colleagues and employers, and in doing so, let them know what you are up to and ask them what they are up to. For every five reconnections I make, two are not in a position to use my services, but three are—and, on average, one out of those three will want to hire me to do a project.

Announce a new product on Facebook and Twitter with a link to a landing page describing and selling it.

And finally, a few more of my social media pet peeves:

People on LinkedIn whom I do not know endorsing me for skills I do not have or services I do not offer.

Infographics on Pinterest that are more complex and difficult to understand than the data they strive to communicate.

People I don't know asking me to be their friend on Facebook.

People who tweet about what they had for breakfast, and even worse, feel compelled to share a photo of it.

Bob Bly is a freelance copywriter who has written copy for more than 100 clients including IBM, AT&T, Praxair, Intuit, Forbes, and Ingersoll-Rand. McGraw-Hill calls Bob “America’s top copywriter” and he is the author of 90 books, including “The Copywriter's Handbook.” Find him online at www.bly.com or call (973) 263-0562.